Moscow Metro Introduces Device and User Traffic Monitoring System

The cost of the contract between MaximaTelecom and Moscow city authorities for maintaining the city’s Wi-Fi network has more than doubled over two years, reaching 434 million rubles. The agreement also includes monitoring information about users’ devices and their traffic. Experts note that the data being collected may be excessive and recommend using secure browsers when accessing public Wi-Fi.

MaximaTelecom has signed a contract with the Moscow City Government’s Mosgortelecom to develop the Moscow Metro Wi-Fi network through 2022, according to Kommersant citing the government procurement portal.

What the New Contract Involves

Under the new agreement, MaximaTelecom is required to provide up to 35,000 Wi-Fi access points. According to the technical specifications, the company will collect anonymized data on user actions within the network, the websites they visit, and where they log in. Additionally, the operator will track which device models connect to the internet, as well as which messengers, browsers, and services are being used at the time.

Moscow city officials stated that this data is necessary for socio-economic forecasting. However, experts believe the information collected about users is excessive. They suggest that the city may use this data not only to monitor transportation flows but also to launch targeted advertising campaigns.

Contract Details

The contract with the operator is valued at 434.5 million rubles and is set for approximately 28 months. The previous contract, signed in 2019, lasted about 18 months and was worth 149.5 million rubles.